Social Media apps are always looking for ways to engage users and keep reinventing their product offering. In-app gaming and gaming, in general, has become a huge phenomenon.
Just think about how successful the Fortnite, Apex Legends and Red Dead Redemption games has become over the past 18 months. The revenue these games have developed has been huge.
So it’s no surprise that apps such as Snapchat would want to tap into
this potential – offering their user base
another reason to spend more time on the platform. Snapchat has been losing
fans and revenue over the past year or so, with the infamous ‘Slap Rhianna or
Punch Chris Brown’ advertising car crash and Kylie Jenner abandoning the app
which reportedly left it down 2 billion in revenue. So you can be sure there’ll
be plenty of new features, games and ways to keep the kids aged 9-21 focused
and ‘entertained’ with this app in 2019.
According to WCCFTech, Snapchat has just announced its ‘Snap Audience
Live’ which helpfully assists other apps to assist 3rd parties who
may not have the resources to advertise here.
Snapchat will of course share in the revenue generated here. After all,
Facebook earns $7 per user, while Snapchat earns a mere $2 per user.
So what is Snap Games?
In a nutshell, parents and carers,
it’s a new feature within the Snapchat app which allows users to play
games with Snapchat friends. The games are simple, fun and social. The idea is that the games allow users to
play real time, multiplayer games while texting and talking with their
friends.
Currently there are 6 games, with no doubt more becoming available, over
the coming weeks and months. The 6 games include:
- Bitmoji Party
- Tiny Royale
- Snake Squad
- Zombie Rescue Squad
- Alphabear Hustle
- C.A.T.S. Drift Race
How do Snap Games Work?
No extra apps are required to play Snap Games. All users need to do is open
a new chat message with another user and tap on a new rocket icon located in
the far-right side of the Chat bar. The
games – all of which are ‘free’ at the moment will appear with, of course, plenty of unskippable
adverts. There’s no such thing as ‘Free’ Snapchatters!.
Snapchat Games – Girls v Boys
It’s well known that girls spend the majority of their time online on
social media apps, while it’s been difficult for social media apps to shift the
boys over from gaming. Snapchat has
cleverly included some slimmed down versions of battle games for the boys so
you may find they’ll take more interest now in this platform.
The new games features are great news for Snapchat (stock figures went
up nearly 5%) and of course there’ll be even more ad-clicks targeted at young
users, as well as a very likely increase in the time kids spend on the
platform.
If a correct date of birth is input for younger users, they’ll be directed
to Snapkidz (Photo and drawing app probably a bit boring for today’s kids and
it’s not on Android so kids will gravitate to Snapchat even if they have to be
‘creative’ with their birth date. It’s also loved because it doesn’t use up
your data if you’re on Three Networks Go Binge.
General Tips for Parenting on Snap
Games:
Let your child know you’ll be checking their account regularly from the
Get Go.
For older teenagers, let them know you understand it’s a cool app and
you’d like to know how it works. Let
them show you the features particularly around the new games, geo-location and
‘Add nearby’, two step verification and snapchat code risks and how Snapchat
‘Memories’ work. It’ll progress
conversations between you that interest you both and may help you to come to
mutual agreements about what’s ok and what’s not on Snapchat and other apps.
Another Gentle Reminder on
Screen Time
Despite all the hype in the media about screen time, and while us parents realise the importance of balance in on-screen/off-screen time, Snapchat along with Facebook, Instagram and all the rest of the social media giants continue to strive to increase the amount of time our children and young people spend online, on their platforms. It can be a struggle that our children see screentime as default. But as parents we need to Keep on Keepin On (Joe Dirt J) Every home can benefit from screen time boundary settings, device-free dinners and family time and actively promoting healthy media habits for adults and children at home and to friends and extended family.
>> Read the full article at waynedenner.com
Wayne Denner is a speaker, author and expert on Online Reputation and Wellbeing. Wayne helps young people protect and improve their digital presence. Visit waynedenner.com for more information.
